The Astronauts, a Polish game developer, created the award-winning mystery game *The Vanishing of Ethan Carter* and is currently developing the dark fantasy FPS *Witchfire*. Their success stems from "smart choices" in game design, such as efficient asset reuse, and assembling a highly talented and passionate team. A recent blog post discusses these strategies, citing examples from *Witchfire* and other games like *Expedition 33*. The post also highlights impressive fan creations, including a *Witchfire* D&D campaign and audio drama. The developers emphasize the importance of hiring top-tier talent and fostering a passionate, collaborative environment.

Join GameAnalytics and Mishka Katkoff for a four-part masterclass on data strategy, acquisition, retention, and monetization. Designed to help you build, scale, and sustain successful games.

The Lean Startup Canvas, adapted from the Business Model Canvas, helps entrepreneurs test business ideas iteratively. It uses a nine-section framework to define customer problems, value propositions, marketing, revenue, costs, and key metrics, emphasizing a build-measure-learn feedback loop. This loop involves creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), gathering customer feedback, and adapting the product based on learnings. The process prioritizes quickly identifying what customers want and avoiding wasted effort. Regular updates to the canvas are crucial as the product develops.

Mixpost is a self-hosted, open-source social media management tool offering unlimited scheduling and content organization without monthly fees. It boasts a user-friendly interface with features like calendar scheduling, post composition, analytics, and team collaboration. Mixpost supports numerous social media platforms and offers one-click publishing with customization options. Its one-time purchase model allows users to own their data and white-label the platform. Easy setup via Docker is provided, making it accessible for both individuals and businesses.

TechTarget and Informa Tech have merged their digital businesses, creating a vast online network. Nintendo's Switch 2 launch is facing overwhelmingly high demand in Japan. The initial lottery for the console has far exceeded supply, leaving many consumers without a unit. Nintendo apologizes for the shortage and plans further lottery sales, but acknowledges not all demand will be met. The company is increasing production to address the issue.

Holly Liu, co-founder of Kabam, shares insights into the gaming industry. She discusses the intricacies of working within this dynamic field. Liu also outlines effective approaches to understanding the market. Her advice focuses on strategies crucial for achieving success in gaming.

This report analyzes the current video game publishing landscape by examining over 100 agreements. It identifies key deal points within these contracts. The survey aims to provide insights into the trends and structures prevalent in video game publishing. This information is crucial for understanding the industry's dynamics. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the market.

God Mode AI is an all-in-one AI suite for game animation, offering tools for 2D and 3D asset creation. It features AI generators for sprites, scenes, pixel art, and 3D models, significantly speeding up the animation process. The platform uses a credit system with various pricing tiers, offering no subscriptions and pay-as-you-go options. High-quality, production-ready assets are generated, reducing costs and improving efficiency. Custom solutions are also available for enterprise clients.

Co-development in the video game industry often fails due to leadership avoidance, weak systems, and misalignment, not external factors like geography. Key reasons for failure include spec creep stemming from unmade decisions, the false economy of prioritizing cheapness over quality, and treating partners as mere "hands" instead of leveraging their experience. Effective co-development requires robust infrastructure for real-time visibility and trust, and it must be led by experienced individuals with the authority to make critical decisions. Ultimately, successful co-development is about orchestration and earned trust, not just outsourcing tasks.

AI games are poised for a breakthrough, but foundational technologies and founder mindsets are still evolving. Similar to the internet's early days, the current AI landscape requires advancements in speed, cost, and quality of AI models. Founders need to broaden their concepts of what a game can be, embracing AI-native thinking for true innovation. NFX believes the "technology window" for AI-native games has just opened, presenting a significant opportunity for new ventures. They are hosting an AI Games Summit on March 8, 2026, for founders in this space.

Obvious University is a public collection of how-to guides for building digital products and fostering a positive company culture. It covers topics including product strategy, user research, AI integration, design principles (typography, microcopy, design systems), mobile engineering, and project management. The resources are intended for employees, potential hires, and anyone interested in product development. The university emphasizes practical application and is based on Obvious's core values of curiosity, craft, and compounding. It aims to create a collaborative environment and improve individual and collective output.